![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, October 01, 2003
- Author:
- Brent Justice
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Radeon 9800 XT Review
We examine the performance, image quality, and gaming experience delivered by ATI’s new Radeon 9800XT video card and explain their Half-Life 2 bundling plans.
ATI Radeon 9600XT:
ATI isn’t stopping at with the 9800XT though! They are also introducing a new mainstream card, the Radeon 9600XT,previously codenamed RV360. The first very interesting thing about this core is that it is using the "Low k" process for .13 micron. While we are not going to get into writing a Low k white paper here, we will tell you some of the things that this process accomplishes while being used by ATI and others. The Low k process reduces needed power and heat while allowing for increased engine speeds. The 9600XT is the first graphics core to use the Low k process for .13. This means ATI is doing very well with .13 and making very big strides in its use. So what does this mean for you? No secondary power is required even though this core is running at very high clocks.
The engine speed runs at 500+MHz. (We will get into what the + means in a little bit.) This is compared to the 9600 Pro’s core speed of 400 MHz. The memory is set at 600+MHz, which is the same speed as the 9600 Pro’s memory. The memory interface is still 128-bit with 128MB, also capable of 256MB of DDR.
The 9600XT is a 4 pixel pipeline architecture with two vertex engines and 24:1 Z-compression. Basically it is the same architecture as the RV350. You will also find the same AA and AF support.
This card is also shipping in October and will be retailing for $199.
Catalyst OverDrive:
Now we will get to what that "+MHz" means. Remember how we mentioned that the 9800XT has thermal monitoring that is built into the packaging of the VPU? Well the 9600XT also has this thermal monitoring but it is actually built into the ASIC itself. Regardless, both work the same way and allow for dynamic overclocking.
ATI is introducing a new feature into the Catalyst driver suite known as OverDrive. This OverDrive will only work on the 9800XT and 9600XT. The software will be able to determine the optimal ASIC speed depending on how hot the VPU is. There are specified "notches" or settings depending on the temperature. These increased clock speeds are "ATI Quality Assured" meaning they are guaranteed to work. Quality testing was done using a major System Integrator's temperature testing ranges, which basically runs the case temp to 50 degrees Centigrade and tests each setting.
This is a feature we are highly looking forward to evaluating. This automatic overclocking can be just the ticket for those timid about overclocking but still want the absolute best performance they can get while gaming. Be clear that at this time we have not tested OverDrive and are unsure if it will ship with the first cards in retail. If it does not however ship with the XT cards, it will be available shortly after. Surely most of our readers will not have issues overclocking their own cards in a non-dynamic sense before then.
Half-Life 2 Bundle:
Half Life 2 will be shipping IN THE BOX (This has now officially changed to COUPON IN THE BOX - 10/01/03 - Kyle) with the 9800XT AND the 9600XT. This is the full retail version, no demo, no shareware, this is the retail version of the game. This is big news folks, especially on the 9600XT. At $199 that is a very appealing offer for many.
With the recent delays reported by ShackNews we are unsure of how the game will actually be supplied at the time of writing this.
Also this is a worthy mention as well. While we have been specifically told of the game shipping with the newer XT cards, the slide above seems to hint that all Radeon branded cards from ATI might be shipping with the game. When we asked ATI about this, they said it was a possibility but the details were not far enough along to comment on it.